7+4: Full Market Coverage in Transportation
7 Target Markets: Private Cars, Public Buses, Taxis, Sanitation Vehicles, Intercity Transportation, Logistic Trucks, Construction Vehicles
4 Markets for Special-Duty Vehicles: Warehouses, Airports, Mines, Ports
Stella Li, President, BYD Motors Inc.
BYD started in 1995 as a battery manufacturer and today we are the world’s largest rechargeable battery company for cellphones. We produce 1 million cells per day.
We’re also the second largest IT component supplier and are partners with many major cellphone companies. While people may not know the BYD name, a lot of their phone components are being made by BYD.
Today we are the world-leading company for green cars. It’s always been our dream to build electric vehicles. Our 7+4 strategy outlines our plan. We want full market coverage in transportation, introducing new energy vehicles in seven target markets for private cars, public buses, taxis, sanitation vehicles, intercity transportation, logistic trucks and construction vehicles and four markets for special-duty vehicles for warehouses, airports, mines and ports. We want all of this equipment to be 100 percent electrified.
Just a few years ago, people were thinking the technology wouldn’t work. But today, the thought is, how do we make this happen? The mindset has totally changed and we have hit a turning point in the market. Maybe in five, 10 years, everything will be an electric bus or truck.
We produce a half a million electric cars per year and as the world’s largest electric bus producer, we will have more than 5,000 electric buses running around the world by the end of the year.
We are a leader in battery technology and all of the electric buses critical components are designed and integrated by BYD so we can guarantee we always get the most satisfactory solution and the lowest cost.
BYD has a very long commitment here in the U.S., not only with the electric bus but in the future, electric trucks. The 12-year warranty we give to all of the customers on the battery means we make this new technology risk-free for our customer.
The mindset has totally changed today. Here in California, 30 to 40 percent of the electricity is generated from renewable energy and the governor’s goal is to get it to 50 percent. When it comes to electricity generation, things are getting greener and greener.
In L.A., for the past two years we have been so dry and hot; we need to deal with these issues today, not tomorrow. With the technology we have available, we all should encourage it. Not only for the money savings, it’s our responsibility for our future, for taking care of the climate.
